The Valpo soccer team suffered its first defeat of the 2023 campaign on Thursday evening in West Lafayette, Ind., falling to Big Ten foe Purdue, 4-1.

How It Happened

• Valpo earned an early corner kick in the fifth minute, but it turned into a Purdue goal, as the Boilermakers were able to counter and Lauren Omholt found the back of the net.
• Purdue extended its lead to 2-0 in the 14^th minute when Zoe Cuneio scored off a corner kick.
• The game went into halftime with a 2-0 scoreline, but the Boilermakers added to their lead on an Emily Mathews goal in the 52nd minute.
• Valpo took advantage of a free kick in the attacking third to pull a goal back in the 60th minute. Fifth-year Allie Anderson (Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton Warrenville South [Xavier]) sent a well-placed ball into the center of the box. The ball pinged around inside the six before finally finding its way to the head of senior Nicole Norfolk (Menomonee Falls, Wis./Divine Savior Holy Angels), who nodded it home to make it a 3-1 game.
• The Boilermakers capped the scoring on a Gracie Dunaway goal in the 68th minute.

Inside the Match

• The loss kept Valpo from enjoying its first 3-0-0 start in program history.
• Norfolk, who entered Sunday with two goals in 67 career matches, has doubled her career scoring total by netting goals in consecutive matches.
• Norfolk is the first Beacon with goals in two straight matches since Addy Joiner scored at Belmont and at Murray State last season.
• All four of Norfolk’s career goals have come via the header.
• Thursday’s match snapped Valpo’s streak of surrendering one goal or fewer in 13 consecutive fixtures.
• Purdue out-shot Valpo on Thursday evening, 19-5, and put eight shots on goal to the Beacons’ three. Goalkeeper Nikki Coryell (Aurora, Ill./Metea Valley) made four saves in goal for Valpo.
• Freshman Eve Miller (Slippery Rock, Pa./Slippery Rock Area) played 20 minutes off the bench on Thursday, becoming the fourth Beacon rookie to make her collegiate debut this season.

Next Up

Valpo (2-1-0) concludes its weekend taking on power-conference opposition on Sunday afternoon at Kentucky. Kickoff is slated for noon CT, and the match can be seen live on SEC Network+.